The Real Truth "No Fish Today"

[todrut]

Decided to hit the caney this afternoon from 4:00 till 8:00 put boat in at Gordonsville ramp and went up river about an hour and half. we then floated back down throwing everything we had, TM's, rooster tails, smithwick(found one at bait shop), all kinds of soft baits, even live minnows.
Not even a bite! Now that is no fish...

So where did we go wrong? It was only 1 gen so they said and sluece but very high and rapid. We were getting up to 4mph floating down, kept using troll to slow down. Really wanted to catch a big brown.

Going to try again, suggestions???

[TroutFiend]

I fished that area Sunday before last with my 2 sons. On the river from 6 am to 930am. Had five throw the rapala perch color crank in floating style. I usually don't fish this far down in the summer "in the daytime anyways" but we were just trying to avoid the traffic. Not sure if the trout are just further upstream or if bite was just slow. We tried most lures also.

[Alphahawk]

Originally Posted by todrut

Decided to hit the caney this afternoon from 4:00 till 8:00 put boat in at Gordonsville ramp and went up river about an hour and half. we then floated back down throwing everything we had, TM's, rooster tails, smithwick(found one at bait shop), all kinds of soft baits, even live minnows.
Not even a bite! Now that is no fish...

So where did we go wrong? It was only 1 gen so they said and sluece but very high and rapid. We were getting up to 4mph floating down, kept using troll to slow down. Really wanted to catch a big brown.

Going to try again, suggestions???

Todd you can't fish Trout Magnets in that much water. They just cant get down deep enough in that current. You may have done nothing wrong. It was a tough day today....high pressure sitting on top of us. Some folks fish a long time waiting for a big brown. I would say as time goes on you will learn more and you will get that big brown. I saw where you were discussing types of lures with Travis. Those jerk baits he showed are a good bait to use for browns. I have caught several nice browns with those jerk baits....but they don't usually come easy.

Regards

[todrut]

not going to give up, but thought something would at least bite, didn't see any followers either. I put the tm's below a bobber while floating so they would sink. Not sure if it was correct but tried it. Tried all we could think of.

[Alphahawk]

Originally Posted by todrut

not going to give up, but thought something would at least bite, didn't see any followers either. I put the tm's below a bobber while floating so they would sink. Not sure if it was correct but tried it. Tried all we could think of.

When you fish them under a float the Trout Magnet should be almost on the bottom....but not hitting bottom. I doubt in that kind of current they got down far enough. I have been fishing T M for years but when they are generating I throw cranks....it is just more productive. But when the generators are off Trout Magnets are very effective. Keep at it. I have driven 400 miles in 2 days and haven't caught much....but I am hitting it again tomorrow morning....sooner or later the fish will turn back on.


Regards

[browntrout]

Also yesterday was a bright sunny day, browns don't like to come out and play in the sun. Also you need to use a lure that will get down a little deeper in that water especially on a sunny day. When I am fishing for browns using stick baits I have at least 2 and sometimes 3 rods with different depth baits to use depending on the depth of the water I am fishing. Hang in there and don't give up. Pay your dues and learn the water.

Roy.

[jad2t]

Yea those big browns aren't like catching stockers. You can go on low water and catch dozens of 8-12" trout all day. On high water you can throw larger baits after big browns and if you catch 1 you had a great day, if you catch 2 or 3 you had a fantastic day. They're smart and tough to catch. I've made several attempts and only caught a few big ones. You should have noticed some follows though. We all see follows and it will irritate the crap out of you to see a nice sized brown follow your jerkbait for several feet then turn away.

Don't give up! I didn't fish for bigger fish in there that often, I wanted numbers and food, but I have caught two large browns (18 and 22 inches) and lost one big one. All 3 of those occurred while fishing at night and all were on the rainbow trout colored jerkbait I showed you. I've only tried once with the rattlin rogue for them. It was last weekend and I got a few follows but no hookups. That doesn't mean anything though, there are several members on here who use those for big browns and do well, that's why I bought one!

[todrut]

ok, am I understanding correctly that one should not expect to catch much on high water except for the browns? But on low water is better chance to catch more fish?
Low water equals no gen and no sluece? Or will water get low with sluece on? The gen was suppose to stop at 5 according to the app, was there till 8 but didn't notice a level drop?

[Alphahawk]

Originally Posted by todrut

ok, am I understanding correctly that one should not expect to catch much on high water except for the browns? But on low water is better chance to catch more fish?
Low water equals no gen and no sluece? Or will water get low with sluece on? The gen was suppose to stop at 5 according to the app, was there till 8 but didn't notice a level drop?

It takes the water several hours to drop out where you were fishing. The sluice may be on when no generators are going but will most likely be between 100 and 250 CFS....certainly safe enough to wade fish. There are plenty of rainbows caught at high water also.


Regards

[Travis C.]

The sluice is always on. There is a 250 cfs min flow through holes in the gates door. When they raise the sluice gate its no longer wading water and water is about like running half a generator. If its wading water then there no generation and just the water coming through the gates holes its not open.

When running water it takes twice as long to fall out to low water it does to rise. Gordonsville takes about 5-6hrs to get there on one generator a little faster with sluice added but twice as long to drain back out after water is stopped.

[robhal11]

I agree with all these other guys on the baits. Used to fish those kind of hours at least once a week thru the summer in the same area doing the same thing. For the smaller trout I would pitch the TM with the split shot, no bobber, up in the eddies against the bank and would usually catch several small trout while looking for the big boys. Keep it up you will get into them.